®Planning appeal decision
Land north of Foxdene , Wrotham Road South Street, Meopham, GRAVESEND, DA13 0QG
the erection of detached chalet bungalow
- Authority
- Gravesham Borough Council
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Minor Dwellings
- Inspector
- Catchpole R
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether the proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and the effect of the proposal on its openness and its purposes
- whether or not there is any other harm that would result from the proposal with particular regard to countryside character and biodiversity
- whether or not any harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness and any other identified harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to Very Special Circumstances
What decided it
The substantial weight given to Green Belt harm, comprising inappropriate development, loss of openness, and encroachment into countryside, was not clearly outweighed by the limited benefits of a single dwelling's contribution to housing supply and the limited sustainability of the location.
The substantial harm to the Green Belt through inappropriateness and loss of openness, combined with moderate harm to countryside character and potential biodiversity loss, was not clearly outweighed by the limited weight afforded to housing supply contribution and sustainability benefits, such that Very Special Circumstances do not exist.
Framework references: 147, 149, 137, 148, 60, 174
Plan policies cited: CS12, CS19
Judgments cited: Dartford BC v SSCLG [2017] EWCA Civ 141
The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.